Tuffree Times

Dear Tuffree community,

Our first five day week of school is in the books! It was great to see so many of you at Back to School Night on Tuesday. The positive energy from parents, students and staff was palpable this week. Our W.E.B. leaders did a fantastic job running their first 7th grade groups on Wednesday, and I felt the school spirit on Friday with so many of our students and staff in school colors. I'd love to see the spirit keep growing untill it is a sea of black and yellow every Friday. If your student did not pick-up their free spirit shirt last week they can come to the office at any point and we'll get them one. PTA has reopened the online spirit wear store, if you'd like to purchase other options for your student. The link is in the PTA update below.

Next week we will be starting Tuffree Connect! This is a free opportunity to receive homework help, test prep, tutoring and connect with our incredible teachers. There is a focus on different subjects on different days, but you can join any day for help in all subjects. Below you will find the schedule for this fantastic program.

Finally, we are in the final few days of our school fundraiser. Please click into your student's fundraising page in the "Activities Update " below, to ensure they have hit their fundraising goals. I hope everyone enjoys the perfect California weather this weekend!

Enthusiastically,

Sarah Barton, Principal

Fundraiser Update!!! - It's not too late! Our STEP IT UP! fundraiser is coming to an end on Wednesday, please log back into your Personal Donation Page and be sure your child has reached the goal you helped them set. Every dollar raised makes a difference in the lives of our students!

Make-up Picture Day! - Makeup Picture Day is Wednesday, October 2nd. You can order here with order code T578.

Spirit store - Spirit Store grand opening Tuesday, Sept 17! Students can check their points on the 5Star app or online at https://5starstudents.com/tuffreems

The School Site Council (SSC) is an elected body responsible primarily for developing and monitoring the School Plan for Student Achievement. SSC's are made up of parents, students, school staff and administrators. Members of the SSC represent the entire school community and take responsibility of achievement for all students. There will be four meetings through the school year, with the first being October 2nd at 3:30pm.

The English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) is a group of individuals who work together to advise school staff and administration on programs and services for English learners. ELACs are made up of parents of English learners, parents of English-only students, teachers, and school administrators. There will be four meetings, with the first being October 8th at 7:30am. I invite any and all parents that take interest in equity and the growth of our community to complete the simple form below.

Safety Drills - For a variety of reasons, we postponed our fire drill last week. As a heads up, we will be having our first lockdown drill on Friday, September 20th, and our first fire drill the week after on September 25th.

Drop-off and Pick-up - Drop-off and pick-up of students should only take place along the drive-through curb. Please pull forward as far as possible before your student exits the car and please do not drop off students in the teacher lot at the south end of the school, or on Kraemer Blvd. This is with safety top of mind.

I have enjoyed connecting and chatting with your students before school and during break and lunch. Please encourage your child to reach out and continue to create positive relationships with me and other adults on campus - those connections are what make our jobs fun, and part of what keeps your students engaged in school! - Ms. Chapman

1.Spirit Wear: The store has reopened until 9/22. Order those cozy pajamas pants and sweatshirts as the weather cools down. Online orders HERE

2. PTA Membership: No volunteer time required! $15 will help Tuffree PTA support students and staff with activities, assemblies and much more!

https://jointotem.com/ca/placentia/tuffree-middle-school-pta

• Bell Schedule: Our bell schedule is found here. Campus supervision begins at 7:45 am. Wednesdays are early release at 2:30 pm for teacher planning and collaboration

• School Calendar: The school calendar can be found here.

• Aeries Parent Portal: Communication between home and school is key to student success. Be sure to check Aeries regularly to monitor student progress.

• Daily Attendance: Every day counts when it comes to student attendance. Students must maintain good attendance to achieve academic success. When a student is absent, please contact the attendance office. The attendance office can be reached by text at (714)202-6891 or by contacting our front office by phone at (714)986-7480. Please include your student’s name, your name, and the reason for the absence. Note that you must report absences every day your student is out, and you have 48 hours to clear an absence.

PYLUSD is seeking individuals to serve as members of our "Literature Review Committee" for the 24-25 school year. Click HERE for more information.

Non-Discrimination Statement: The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying in all district activities, programs, and employment based upon actual or perceived gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, ethnicity, color, religion, ancestry, nationality, national origin, ethnic group identification, immigration status, sex, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, pregnancy, age, physical or mental disability, or on the basis of a person’s association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics, or affiliation with the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups or any other basis protected by law or regulation, in its educational program(s) or employment. In accordance with AB-1078, this applies to all acts of the governing board and the superintendent of the school district in enacting policies and procedures that govern the local educational agency. The following employees have been designated to handle questions or complaints of alleged discrimination: Employee complaint- Dr. Issaic Gates, Deputy Superintendent, Human Resources (714) 985-8408. Title IX and any other discrimination complaints - Dr. Baldwin Pedraza, Director, Student Services (714) 985-8670, bpedraza@pylusd.org. Title II Coordinator / 504 Coordinator / Americans with Disabilities Act complaints - Dr. Baldwin Pedraza, Director, Student Services (714) 985-8670. Bullying, intimidation complaints - Tonya Gordillo, Administrator, Student Services (714) 985-8671. The mailing address for all compliance officers is 1301 E. Orangethorpe Avenue, Placentia, CA 92870.